Hard work and dedication has been the recipe of success for the varsity softball team.

The team has seen its competition and has its sights on obtaining a conference championship.

“We think we should be able to sweep them all,” sophomore outfielder Lauren Patrowsky said.

The girls thrive on leadership and success. Senior shortstop Gabrielle Charles said the girls just click. 

“We all get along pretty well. We practice hard, take the game seriously and have positive attitudes,” Charles said.

This year’s team is also more successful because of the leadership roles that upperclassmen have taken. Last year, only two senior members were on the team compared to four this year. 

“We’re just always looking for something either positive to say, picking somebody up when they’re down or not being afraid to say something to someone who might be doing something wrong,” Charles said.

Off season training has helped the team improve as well.

“Coming in to open gyms and coming in after school pitching has really played a big part in our success,” head coach Duke O’Keefe-Boettcher said.

Coaching has been essential for the team’s accomplishments. The girls have taken heed to a model their coaches have set for them: “We practice how we play.”

“They’re always willing to help us out, and they never hesitate to tell us something,” Charles said.

As a team, the girls try to stay focused at practice, and it has shown in their success as they have blown past their opponents. The team has been victorious, winning all of its games by double digits. 

“One of our goals is to get better every day and that starts at practice. So practice doesn’t make perfect, perfect practice makes perfect,” O’Keefe-Boettcher said.